Veer Bal Diwas: A look at the bravery and sacrifice of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons, aged 7 and 9

Sahibzada Zorawar Singh (9) and Sahibzada Fateh Singh (7) were killed in 1704, in events sparked by the attack on Anandpur Sahib by the armies of the Mughals and the hill kings of present-day Himachal Pradesh

Written by: Kamaldeep Singh Brar

5 min readAmritsarUpdated: Dec 27, 2022 07:50 PM IST

Devotees at the Shaheedi Jor Mela at Fatehgarh Sahib. (Express)

Listen to this article

Veer Bal Diwas: A look at the bravery and sacrifice of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons, aged 7 and 9

00:00

1x 1.5x 1.8x

Every December, Sikhs mark the supreme sacrifice made by the children and mother of the 10th Guru, Gobind Singh ji. Shaheedi Jor Mela or Shaheedi Sabha is observed at Fatehgarh Sahib, which is attended by lakhs of people.

In January this year, the Centre announced that December 26 would be observed as ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ to mark the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s younger sons, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh (9) and Sahibzada Fateh Singh (7).

Also in Explained | Ratnagiri’s pre-historic rock: why are experts worried about its conservation?

The two Sahibzade were killed in 1704, in events sparked by the attack on Anandpur Sahib by the armies of the Mughals and the hill kings of present-day Himachal Pradesh. Guru Gobind Singh’s mother Mata Gujari Ji, and two other sons, Sahibzaada Ajit Singh Ji (18) and Sahibzaada Jujhar Singh Ji (14), were also martyred within a week.

What led to the attack

Guru Gobind Singh was raising an army, which the neighbouring hill kings were not comfortable with. In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh had established the Khalsa, which the hill kings and the Mughal empire saw as a threat. The kings had had several battles with the Sikhs in the last decade of the 17th century, but had been unable to dislodge them from Anandpur Sahib.

The fateful attack of 1704 was led by Bilaspur King Bheem Chand and Handuria King Raja Hari Chand. They cordoned off Anandpur Sahib with support from the Mughal empire. The armies of Sarhand, Lahore, Jalandhar, Malerkotla and Saharnpur also joined the attack. Supplies to Anandpur Sahib were cut off for several months.

It is said that the Hindu kings and Muslim Mughal governors finally reached an agreement with the Sikhs, and swore there would be no war if Guru Gobind Singh left Anandpur Sahib.

According to the history published by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Guru Gobind Singh left Anadpur Sahib on December 20, 1704. However, their opponents violated their oath and the Guru and his followers were attacked near the river Sarsa, at a distance of about 25 kilometres from Anandpur Sahib.

Battle on the banks of Sarsa

Story continues below this ad

The river was flooded. Many Sikhs soldiers were swept away while crossing the cold river. In the chaos, Guru Gobind Singh’s family was separated, scattering in three directions. His wife, mata Sahib Kaur, and companion Bhai Mani Singh went towards Malwa. The Guru himself with his two eldest sons, Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh, and 40 other Sikhs moved toward Chamkaur Sahib. Mata Gujar Kaur ji and the two younger sons started a journey that ended in Sarhand.

Today, Gurdwara Parivaar Vichhora Sahib stands on the spot where the battle of Sarsa took place and the family was separated.

Guru Gobind Singh and his band of followers were soon surrounded in a castle at Chamkaur Sahib, where they had taken refuge. The historic battle of Chamkaur was fought here, where a small number of Sikhs took on the huge army of the Mughals and the hill kings. Sahibzada Ajit Singh and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh both sacrificed their lives in this battle on December 22.

What happened to the Chhote Sahibzade

Sahibzada Zorwar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh along with their grandmother were staying in village Kheri at the house of one Gangu, who had served as a cook for the family.

Story continues below this ad

However, Gangu, tempted by the gold ornaments and coins Mata Gujari ji was carrying and the reward announced by the Mughal governor, handed over the children and their grandmother to Sarhind’s Nawab Wazir Khan.

The three – the 81-year-old Mata Gujari ji, and the two Sahibzade aged 7 and 9 – were imprisoned in the Thanda Burj (cold tower), which had a river flowing next to it and was thus bitterly cold.

When the children were presented in court, they were offered riches and gifts and told to convert to Islam. They were told their father and elder brothers had been killed in the war. The Sahibzade refused to convert or to bow to Wazir Khan.

After efforts to make them give up their religion failed, Wazir Khan decided that the boys would be bricked alive. There was resistance to this from some Muslim courtiers, like Nawab Sher Khan, who said it was against Islam to sentence two children to death.

Story continues below this ad

However, Wazir Khan prevailed. It is said that even as a wall was being erected around them, the Sahibzada stood unflinching. Two executioners then slit their throats, killing the younger, Sahibzada Fateh Singh, first. The same day, Mata Gujari ji died of shock.

A few years later, Baba Banda Singh Bhadur avenged the execution of the Sahibzade, by attacking and capturing Sarhand.

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

Loading Recommendations...

Mar 10: Latest News

Live Blog